News in brief: Bonnycastle’s heavy weights

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This article was published 02/01/2017 (3457 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bonnycastle’s heavy weights

A little extra weight around the holidays didn’t hurt students at École R.H.G. Bonnycastle School last month.

Faced with the task of collecting more food than the combined weight of Winnipeg Jets right-winger Chris Thorburn, retired Bombers Chris Walby, Bob Toogood and Jermese Jones, students successfully pulled in 4,972 pounds of food for Winnipeg Harvest before the winter break.

“It is so moving to watch my students involved in social action,” principal Caterina Romeo-Mzakar said. “We teach generosity in this school and our staff all agrees it takes a village to keep a community going. I truly feel that by taking part in this food drive, the kids at Bonnycastle will see that people are stronger when they work as a group.”

Youth in control

Students from across Manitoba gathered at the Legislature last week for the 95th session of the Youth Parliament of Manitoba.

According to organizers, the Youth Parliament of Manitoba model provides an opportunity for young adults, aged 16 to 20, to improve communication skills, learn about the Canadian democratic parliamentary tradition, and meet youth from across the province.

From Dec. 26 to 31, youth parliament members debated six bills that proposed mandatory military service; the elimination of grading in the education system; police service reform; the legalization of polygamous marriage; the addition of environmental rights to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and the creation of a 25-hour work week.

Donate your Christmas tree

Even after the needles have turned brown, Christmas trees can still have purpose.

The City of Winnipeg is once again running its tree recycling program from Dec. 27 to Jan. 20.
Christmas trees can be recycled by dropping them off at one of the city’s depots. All plastic tree bags, tinsel, decorations, and tree stands must be removed.

Residents are welcome to help themselves to free wood chips, which will be available at all depots in early January, the City said. Remember to bring your own container.

Trees placed at the curb next to recycling or garbage carts will not be collected. Last year, Winnipeggers recycled 11,802 trees.

Depot locations:
• Charleswood Centre – 24-hour access – 3900 Grant Ave.;
• Fire Station #17 – 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. – 1501 Church Ave. at Sheppard St.;
• Kilcona Park – 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Lagimodiere Blvd. and McIvor Ave.;
• Kildonan Park    – 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. –  2015 Main St., Rainbow Stage parking lot;
– King’s Park – 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. – 198 King’s Dr., south parking lot;
• Panet Recycling Depot – 24-hour access – Panet Rd. and Mission St.;
• St. Boniface – 24-hour access – Darveau St. back lane at Tache Ave.;
• St. James Civic Centre – 24-hour access – 2055 Ness Ave., northwest corner of parking lot;
• St. Vital Park – 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. -190 River Rd., south parking lot;
• Vimy Arena – 24-hour access – 255 Hamilton Ave. at Vimy Rd.;
• Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex – 24-hour access – 900 Waverley St. at Victor Lewis Dr.

Real trees can also be dropped off for recycling at the 4R Depot at Brady Road Resource Management Facility, 1777 Brady Rd., during regular operating hours. Wood chips are not available at this location.

The depots at Assiniboine Park Zoo, Chrislind St. at Ravelston Ave., and Pan Am Pool are permanently closed.